Customer ratings & reviews

Fantastic for its purpose.

Posted 1 month ago

Logics

Verified Purchase

Member

Like the original model, it has CEC HDMI, and can turn on/off the television, (IF the power source is not the television), and/or automatically select the right input source, provided your television has CEC services. (Only one of my TV sets does).
Like the original, it connects to 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-fi networks.
So what are all these improvements over the original or 2nd generation? Mostly processing power and additional connectivity options. From a UI standpoint, it is precisely the same. From a UX standpoint, the difference is probably not noticeable. With an Ethernet adapter (sold separately), one can use a more reliable wired network.
It streams video from its source, not from your device, (except when doing screen mirroring, second monitor). This means your device can initiate content, then shutdown/disconnect/etc., and the content keeps playing.
If you decide, you can allow others to also stream from their devices as a guest, even if they are NOT on your network, by enabling "guest mode," (off my default). Speaking of which, all documentation insist that one needs to be on the same Wi-fi network to use the device while not in guest mode, but this is not true; one simply needs to be on the same internal network, even if on separate WiFi AP.
It is fully controllable with the Google Assistant. "Hey, Google, show me the latest Tony Northrup YouTube video in the Florida room, please." "Okay, Google, advance two minutes and forty-five seconds, please.”
It is a great purchase. This is NOT the 4k model. If you have a UHD television, you may want to get the 4k model.

I would recommend this to a friend

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BookPublisher

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Out Rokus the Roku

Posted 3 months ago

BookPublisher

Verified Purchase

Member

This small disc plugs into an unused HDMI port and a USB port on the back of your flat screen TV. Supposedly you can "cast" (stream on your TV ) from well over 1,000 apps on your smartphone. A distinctive Chromecast icon appears on your phone if you are using an app that you can cast to your TV. Frankly, I was only interested in one: DAZN (pronounced "duh zone." DAZN is the new source for boxing on the Internet. DAZN just signed Canelo Alvarez—the undisputed middleweight champion of the world to a $365 million contract for exclusive rights to eleven of Canelo's bouts over the next five years. DAZN isn't compatible with Roku. (I should add the word "yet," because it's in the interest of DAZN to be as widely available as possible. There is no subscription charge for the Google Cromecast. However, you have to pay for many of the streaming services that you play on it. Once you are connected (you first download the free Google Home app. Google sees the Chromecast as a component of your futuristic Google Home. I don't want to open my garage door with my phone; I just want to watch boxing. I had some trouble getting DAZN going initially. However, Google Chromecast has excellent phone support. The customer support guy guessed that I had many apps running in the background of my iPhone. I double-clicked on the button and swiped away the apps that I wasn't using, and then I could cast DAZN, Thye picture is beautiful, and I am delighted with my purchase. Incidentally, once you get the boxing match going, you can use your phone for other things. There is no need for a line-of-sight connection between the phone and the Google Chromecast.

I would recommend this to a friend

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WarcraftFan

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Not for most but a must for YouTube 1080p 60fps

Posted 3 months ago

WarcraftFan

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Alright I'm going to be honest. other than a aesthetic change to match the Chromecast Ultra and a bit of an increase in size. Not that different than the last Chromecast and most people with the second gen Chromecast aren't missing out on much. Except for one difference that will make buying this model worth it for a small group of people of which I am a part of. The gamer and the game walkthrough watcher community. Because internally the specs of this model I think give this model a 15% boost in performance which is modest but significant enough to enable this specific model to output video at 1080p at 60fps where as the previous model could only do 1080p 30fps and 720 60fps. This is important to me because Youtube since 2015 has enable channels the option to upload HD video at 60fps which is useful in particular for video games that play at that framerate (basically all PC titles and a large portion of console games in particular first person shooters and some others) I particularly value it because one channel on YouTube pretty much uploads all there videos in HD at 60fps. That channel would be the lovely people at Digital Foundry. If you don't know who they are then go check them out and you will quickly see they are more than a typical gaming channel. So basically if you like watching YouTube in HD at 60fps then this is for you other than that then your not missing much. Except maybe the fact that this can also be used with Google's smart speakers or rather Google home I can't really remember exactly but it involved something with speakers. So that's all I know.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Nalo50

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Takes some getting used to

Posted 3 months ago

Nalo50

Verified Purchase

Member

I’ve been using the Amazon Fire TV devise so this was experience for me. I like the fact that you can use your phone or table to search and play videos from YouTube and movie streaming sites. It’s faster then using a remote that comes with most dedicated devises. I found it a little frustrating in the beginning but once I got used to it I was happy that I made the purchase. It’s better to create a play list in YouTube so you don’t have to keep going back to your phone to select something else to watch especially if you are doing other things while the TV is playing. I’ve used it to stream Netflix and a few other services. Amazon doesn’t seem to be available so that’s something to think about if you have that available.
Fairly easy to install but you will need to read the directions guys or you will find numerous dead ends. I have used this for travel and it worked great and reliably. I Recommend this for travel and if you are a big YouTube watcher.

I would recommend this to a friend

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aggielaw

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Great For What It Is

Posted 2 months ago

aggielaw

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

I purchased this because it is Roon-ready, and I wanted to be able to use the HDMI in on my AV receiver to play files via Roon. The Chromecast does this without skipping, but is very limited in passing on DSP performed by the host computer. The sound quality is ok, but not great. This is to be expected, of course. After all, the Chromecast isn't designed to be a high-end audio device.
I experimented with playing movies through some of the apps, and they work flawlessly. This is more in line with what the Chromecast was is designed to do.
I took a flyer on this device, hoping the assertion"the source doesn't matter, it's all ones and zeroes" was correct in the world of digital audio reproduction. That assertion is simply false. For those who use the Chromecast for the purposes it was truly designed, it's an excellent, versatile device. You won't be disappointed.

I would recommend this to a friend

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HDDude

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Perfect!

Posted 3 months ago

HDDude

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

What can you say about a device that just plain works? The Google Chromecast does, and perfectly at that.
This device - the base 2018 model - is designed for screens that display 720p or 1080i. If you have a 4K screen, just get the Chromecast Ultra. Easy.
The until allows me to cast videos to my kitchen TV, which is a little 24" 720p LG. I like to watch and listen to videos while I make dinner, so it's perfect.
Plus, Google just enabled a feature in Google Home, in which Chromecasts like this can be linked in 'speaker groups.' That's nice.
The fit is just right....a 720p TV and this unit.
Thanks, Google. Thanks, Best Buy.

I would recommend this to a friend

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SEE1

Member

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

2

Not worth the aggravation

Posted 2 months ago

SEE1

Member

I have two of these- the first model and then the newest model. I stopped using the first as every time I tried to cast from my Hulu app to would suddenly disconnect after 20 min and I was forced to reset it every 20 min. Got so frustrated threw it in a drawer. Tried again with this new model a few month ago- and surprise it happens again. Every time I try to cast from my app on my iPhone- it disconnects every 20 min and my Google Home app is useless as it can’t find the Cast and the best trouble shooting it can ever say is check my internet connection- which is fine. So again the only option is to get up and unplug and replug the device. Not worth the aggravation it causes. So disappointed in Google.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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Bran

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Simple, efficient, and fun!

Posted 2 months ago

Bran

Member

This Google Chromecast is just as amazing as the first generation but also improved for 4K media. This is our second one in our home and it was easy to set up (did take a little bit of time). It comes compact and you just power it up, plug into the TV, and use the Google Home app to set it up. Super simple and then you can stream all your shows, music, and other media to your TV. Yes, for Apple users wondering if it works in their homes, it does. You just need the Google Home app. Not only is this a great product but I got it on Cyber Monday for an amazing price! Definitely would recommend to anyone!

I would recommend this to a friend

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Miamitennis

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

easy set up works great, word of advice.

Posted 3 months ago

Miamitennis

Elite Member

So I got this to be able to broad cast movies from my PC to my living room TV.
I have a pretty good router with both 5G and 2.4G ,do yourself a favor and pair it with your 2.4 network unless your chrome cast is right next to your router, 2..4 has less speed but more range, 2.4 speed is enough and less stuttering.
if you wish to broad cast movies from your pc use googe chrome and download a plug in called "Cast player" click the plug in, drop the movie in the browser and select " cast" once your chrome cast is set up , presto!

I would recommend this to a friend

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Dave

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

2

Makes the most sense for Google users

Posted 1 week ago

Dave

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

My main concern is that it's not intuitive enough to the point where you solely rely on voice commands and it's also linked only to those who own or use a smartphone device linked wirh a Google account, you can get Roku for about the same price for the standard set plus 30 days of free cable on sling, for a single user that uses Google products as their main source of interaction I will say that it works very well since the Google commands are very efficient for the most part and it works really good when using other google products such a Google mini, etc.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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DaveC

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Limited Review Experience

Posted 3 months ago

DaveC

Verified Purchase

Member

The Chromecast was easy enough to set-up. It plays the YouTube videos from my Samsung Galaxy 9+ phone's source onto the Television. The clarity of the resulting images and videos are acceptable. The sound quality is fine as well. Not a bad option when playing the phone's content to a room full of people. Although the television knows to switch to the proper input device channel when content begins playing, the setting needs to be manually changed once finished with Chromecasting - a limitation no doubt of the other components I am using with it (XBox One, DVR, etc) Good job, Google!

I would recommend this to a friend

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Shawn

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Easy Installation and Excellent Streaming

Posted 3 months ago

Shawn

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

I had been on a search for a decent streaming device that I could use to stream the media content from phone or an iPad and I found a perfect match for my needs in the form of a 2018 refresh of Google Chromecast. Swaying away from the
design cues of a previous version of Chromecast with a new logo and a matte finish it looks neat. With addition of Bluetooth and 1080P with 60 fps with a better WiFi connectivity. If you are looking for 4K go for the ultra model but if not this would suffice all the other needs for streaming.

I would recommend this to a friend

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jvaltierra90

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Great gift! So simple.

Posted 2 months ago

jvaltierra90

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

This is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to turn most TVs into a "smart" TV. Great as a gift for young and old (as long as you actually help them set up to use it).
If you already have a smart TV with apps and internet access, a Chromecast can potentially overcome some of the TVs shortcomings as well. From personal experience, certain TVs may just not perform as well as you'd like for basic streaming. As long as your internet is not the problem, a Chromecast might still perform better for YouTube/Hulu/Netflix/Plex than your TVs built in apps.

I would recommend this to a friend

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JackandJD

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Love these things

Posted 2 months ago

JackandJD

Verified Purchase

Member

I’ve been using a chromecast for years but these newer ones are way better with a clearer picture than my original one, and with the sale price I figured I get 2 and give one as a gift, I showed them how to use it on Christmas Eve and now they are thinking they might cut the cord to save over 100 dollars a month compared to direct tv, looking forward to seeing how much they actually saved.
I Love how easy it is to cast shows from my phone or my tablet to my older Samsung smart tv that was not being supported/updated anymore, made my older smart tv, smarter.

I would recommend this to a friend

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BEF05

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Easy to use

Posted 4 months ago

BEF05

Verified Purchase

Member

I’m still playing around with it but I use it to watch YouTube tv with a subscription. Also if you have satellite service you can’t watch any of the premium channels like HBO using your password you must have a separate subscription. Pairs great with google home or mini. The only thing I don’t like is that it has to be plugged in separately for power. The hdmi cord does not charge it and it has to plug into the usb on the tv or an outlet.

I would recommend this to a friend

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TopNotch18

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3

Good Device for TVs

Posted 4 days ago

TopNotch18

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Much faster device than the 1st generation. Can actually use to view YouTube Tv!!!! Most Smart TVs don’t have the YouTube Tv. This is very important if you pay for that subscription! Hope the next generation device, comes without a power cord. Didn’t see the need for it! Guess it’s all part of the plan to keep us ( the consumer) to keep spending $$!

I would recommend this to a friend

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Kittie

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Is very convenient....

Posted 3 weeks ago

Kittie

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

This is my second Google Chromecast. Both have worked fine.
I purchased this one to place in my crafting room. I love being able to look up movies, videos, web pages, or what ever else I may need and sent it to a TV over my work area for help or entertainment. Does just what I hoped it would.
Only con to me is you now have to install google home on your device to use this. Not a huge fan since it is yet another type of software that loves to spy on you..

I would recommend this to a friend

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essbeebee

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

A good alternative to roku and fire tv

Posted 3 months ago

essbeebee

Verified Purchase

Member

*slaps roof of chromecast* this baby can fit so much streaming in it! I had a fire tv for a while, but this honestly makes more sens for my personal setup. I already have the apps for my streaming services on my phone, so it's pretty convenient to just cast whatever I want to the TV. That being said, you want your phone or tablet or whatever to have a decent amount of storage to actually hold all of those apps in the first place. Being able to stream my PC to the TV is just a bonus!

I would recommend this to a friend

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Aney

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Best Thing Ever!!

Posted 2 months ago

Aney

Verified Purchase

Member

I love my chrome cast! It’s so easy to use and set up!!! I have no regret in purshasing this! It’s awesome for anyone who doesn’t want to watch regular cable channels anymore. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy the easy to use features with your apps on your mobile devices. I love how easy it is to connect to my pc monitors. I also like how small it is and that it doesn’t take much space at all along the wires of my speaker, monitors and other pc cables that are around.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Robwilson80

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Life Saver on Vacation

Posted 1 month ago

Robwilson80

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

My wife and I were recently staying at a place that had a poor WiFi connection for the Smart TV. We couldn’t load Netflix at night to watch movies and were super frustrated. I had used a Chromecast in the past so I knew we could launch apps from our phones to play on the TV. Even though we couldn’t connect the TV through the WiFi we were still able to connect the Chromecast and watch movies on Netflix!! Absolutely made our vacation more enjoyable.